Having spent 38 years in the construction business, Bill Smith of Fort Worth, TX decided the time had come to build something for himself and the community.

The result is The Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge on Ft. Worth’s near south side, an architecturally historic Lions Club that Smith gutted and redesigned.

“I’ve always been involved in live music, but never owned a venue before,” he says. “I wanted to create a sophisticated adult listening room that sounds great and where artists want to play. That was the basic idea behind The Live Oak.”

Smith worked with Chris Jordan of Electro Acoustics in Ft. Worth on all the performance aspects of the design. Electro Acoustics is a design/build firm that employs a comprehensive approach to audio, video, lighting and acoustics.

“This was a great project because Bill Smith had a clear vision and trusted us to make it happen,” says Jordan, the firm’s president and chief steward. “It’s an intimate space, but had to be good enough to attract national acts, both in terms of the room itself and the rider-friendliness of the sound system.

“Originally, we didn’t think we could afford a Midas console, but then the PRO2 came out. When we saw the demo, we just instantly fell in love with it. It’s the best digital console we’ve ever seen in that price range, by far. And obviously, the Midas name makes it extremely artist-friendly. It was a perfect fit for us.”

Beyond the actual price, The Live Oak and Electro Acoustics found the PRO2 saved money in other ways. The console’s ample EQ and effects engines eliminated the need for outboard gear, while the Cat-5 fiber connectivity meant no bulky copper snakes, even with the DL251 I/O box located onstage.

Jordan notes, “Not only do we save significant cash in terms of hardware and wiring, but also in terms of space. The PRO2 lets us run both the house and monitor mixes from one surface, but still keep the control booth small enough to give about five extra seats, which was a big consideration for an intimate venue like The Live Oak.”

Another consideration was ease of use. “It’s really a very intuitive board,” says Jordan. “I basically taught it to myself on a Saturday afternoon. Once I figured out the patching, the rest of it really began to flow. I love the ergonomics, especially the POP Groups, and the instant access you have when making adjustments. You’re always just one button away from anywhere you need to go, so the navigation is incredibly fast, which is really important in a setup like this. It’s really the most fun board to mix on that I’ve ever seen.”

With room for about 200 patrons seated or 500 standing, The Live Oak features both local and national artists, with the added attractions of a high-end restaurant and a bar featuring over 200 beers.

In addition to the main music hall, the venue also boasts a lounge with live music, plus both street-level and rooftop outdoor patios. Since its June opening, the venue has hosted such artists as John Oates (of Hall and Oates), Iris Dement, The Vespers, and Jim Lauderdale.

“We’ve been getting rave reviews on the sound of the room, and the Midas PRO2 is a big part of that,” says Smith. “Visiting engineers love it, and they generally need less than 30 minutes to feel comfortable on the console. Our first concert was John Oates. He raved about the room and said he wants to come back.

“In fact, we keep a journal in our green room for artist comments, and everyone who’s played here has basically said the same thing. That’s something we want to build on, to earn a reputation as a sophisticated, top class listening room where artists want to play.”